Wiring device



Oct. 25, 1966 A. P. NEWMAN 3,281,752

- WIRING DEVICE Filed March 2, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 vi m an "T g m I I;$3 W m I l g E: g a I jT M W. 722 a Oct. 25, 1966 A NEWMAN 3,281,752

WIRING DEVICE Filed March 2, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill/V5. 1/ T08.

( M MW 4455 7" I? A/SWOHM United States Patent Ofilice Filed Mar. 2,1964, Ser. No. 348,576 10 Claims. (Cl. 339-41) This invention relates toa wiring device and more particularly to a new and improved electricalconnector comprising two elongated electrical conductor housing membershaving male and female contacts, respectively, and novel means toprevent accidental contact with energized contacts.

Electrical connectors quite often are disengaged without electricallyde-energizing the output or fem-ale connector. Usually the femalecontacts are recessed slightly into the connector body but it isrelatively easy to make contact by a portion of the human body with oneor more of the energized contacts, thus resulting in a dangerous andsometimes fatal shock. At the present time there are various devicescommercially available for preventing accidental contact with energizedfemale contacts. Some of such prior devices have been characterized bystructures having a rotatable disc on the female connector with maleentry holes therein so that the disc must be rotated to effect a matingof the male and female contacts. A disadvantage of such prior structuresis that it is possible for a person to place a finger into one of theseentry holes and rotate the disc until a live female contact is engaged.The present invention as hereinafter described obviates suchdisadvantage by providing locking means to prevent rotation of the discduring the time that the male and female contacts are disengaged.

Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide a new andimproved wiring device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedwiring device having a lockable protective rotatable disc for preventingaccidental bodily con tact with energized contacts.

Still another object of the present invention is to pro vide a new andimproved electrical connector having a lockable protective rotatabledisc for automatically preventing dirt and grit from entering into thefemale con tact.

These and other objects and advantages of this inven tion will becomemore readily apparent upon considera tion of the following descriptionand drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an assembled side elevational view of an electricalconnector constructed in accordance with the principles of thisinvention with a portion'thereof broken away to more clearly show thestructure thereof;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the female connector as shown inFIG. 1 showing the protective disc locked in a normal non-electricalengaging position;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the electrical connector asshown in FIGURE 1 with the locking means shown in an engaged position;

FIGURE 4 shows a section of the electrical connector taken substantiallyon the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 with the locking means shown in a releasedposition; and

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view -of the device shown in FIGURE 1 ina disassembled relationship.

Referring to the drawings it will be noted that an electrical connectorconstructed in accordance with the principles of this inventioncomprises a cylindrical insulated housing 1 having a pair of elongatedelectrical male contacts 4 (only one of which is shown in FIGURE 1)extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said housing and axiallyoutwardly from the face of said housing with the inner ends thereofbeing embedded within hous- 3,281,752 Patented Oct. 25, 1966 ing 1. Thehousing 1 is preferably provided with an integral tubular outer casing 2of aluminum or any other suit-able metal having similar properties andwith an integral tubular shroud 3 which surrounds the male contacts 4.Contacts 4 are electrically engageable with a pair of elongated femalecontacts 6 (only one of which is shown in FIGURE 1), which are suitablyembedded to extend axially of an elongated insulated housing 8. Anopening or slot 5 extending axially inwardly from the face of housing 8and parallel to the axis thereof is suitably counterbored as at 7 toreceive the female contact 6. The ends of the contacts 4 and 6 remotefrom their engageable ends are suitably electrically connected tosuitable electrically insulated conductors carried by cables generallyindicated as 10 and 12, respectively, and which cables 10 and 12 aresuitably connected to the housings 1 and 8, respectively. Housings 1 and8 are preferably formed of a suitable dielectric material such asflexible molded rubber or neoprene with the ends of the cables 10 and 12integrally mounted therein.

Extending axially outwardly from the face of housing 1 is an elongatedcylindrical metallic pin member 14 whose longitudinal axis coincideswith the longitudinal axis of the housing 1. Pin member 14 is embeddedwithin housing 1 and is suitably secured therein such as by means ofknurled surfaces 16. Securely mounted within housing 8 as by knurledsurfaces 18 is an elongated cylindrical tubular, sleeve member 20 havingan extended bore 22 therein for the reception of pin 14 and an aperture24 defined by a circular beveled wall 25 communicating with bore 22located inwardly adjacent the forward end of said member 20 for apurpose hereinafter more fully explained. For purposes of thisdescription, the forward ends of housings 8 and 1 will be their matingends, respectively.

In order to prevent entry into contacts 6 during the time that contacts6 are electrically disengaged from contacts 4, the forward or free endof housing 8 is recessed to provide a depression 23 for receiving acircular protective insulation cover or disc 26 which substantiallycovers the face of housing 8 and is located adjacent thereto. Disc 26 ispreferably formed of a suitable hardened material such as a plasticmolding compound so that it will not be readily deformed upon theapplication of forces thereto. However, other durable hard materials maybe employed, such as the hardened rubber-like material shown in FIG-URES 3 and 4. A central circular opening 28 in disc 26 concentric withthe central axis of disc 26 is provided for accommodating sleeve member20. Disc 26 is mounted for rotation within depression 23 about sleevemember 20 and is held in place axially by lock ring 27 mounted in anannular groove 31 located inwardly adjacent the forward end of member20. A plurality of openings or slots 29 in disc 26 extend parallel toand are spaced radially outwardly from opening 28. When in normalposition disc 26 is turned relative to housing 8 substantially from aposition of alignment or registry of openings 29 with contacts 6 therebypreventing access to contacts 6.

Means are provided to bias disc 26 to the normal position or theposition in which openings 29 are out of registry with contacts 6. Suchmeans comprise an elongated, helical, torsion spring 34 located betweenmember 20 and a sleeve 32, Sleeve 32 is suitably embedded in housing 8and is located within a central bore 30 which is concentric with member20 and of a larger diameter than the member 20. The spring 34 has legs33 and 35 at the opposite ends thereof which extend radially outwardlybeyond the periphery of the helical portion of spring 34, one leg 33being captively located or confined within the walls of a slot 36 inhousing 8 and the other leg 35 being similarly captively located withinthe walls of a slot 38 in disc 26. Looking at FIGURE 2, torsion spring34 3 biasesrotatable disc 26 in the counterclockwise direction or in adirection opposite to that indicated by the arrow. Thus, if disc 26 isrotated relative to housing 3 clockwise or in the direction of the arrowas shown in FIGURE 2, against the bias of spring 34, leg 35 of spring 34will rotate in the same direction with respect to leg 33 therebystressing or loading spring 34 so that upon release of pressure, spring34 will unload and rotate disc 26 in the counterclockwise direction.

Rotatable disc 26 has a bore 41 extending from circular opening 28 tothe periphery of disc 26. Bore 41 is suitably counterbored to provide apassageway 40 and is further suitably counterbored to provide apassageway 45 for the reception of an adjustable set screw 50.Passageway 40 terminates in a shoulder 43 which serves as a stop for apurpose hereinafter more fully explained.

In order to prevent accidental rotation of disc 26 and therebyundesirable access to energized contacts, a slidable locking member 42,preferably in the form of an elongated plunger, is disposed within bore41. Locking member 42 has a flange 46 which cooperates with shoulder 43to limit movement of locking member 42 in a direction radially inwardlytoward bore 22. Arranged between flange 46 of locking member 42 andadjustable set screw 50 is an elongated helical coiled compressionspring 44, which constantly biases said locking member downwardly towardaperture 24. Accordingly, in the normal locking position, member 42 isreceived within aperture 24 of member due to the bias of spring 44,thereby locking disc 26 to housing 8. It will be readily understood bythose skilled in the art that the compression on spring 44 andaccordingly the amount-of bias on locking member 42 can be adjusted byset screw '50. I

In order to limit the rotational movement of disc 26, an elongatedprojection or stop pin 52 is located radially outwardly with respect tobore and issuitably mounted in housing 8 extending axially outwardlyfrom the face of housing 8. An arou ate groove 54 having its center linelying on an arc whose center coincides with the central axis of disc 26is suitably formed in the face of disc 26 adjacent housing 8 and islocated radially outwardly with respect to opening 28. Arcuate groove 54receives projection 52 and has two end portions 56 and 58 which serve tolimit arcuate movement of groove 54 and thereby rotational movement ofdisc 26. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatthe arcuate groove 54 may be in housing 8 and the projection 52 mountedon the face of disc 26, if desired.

OPERATION During the time that contacts 4 and 6 are disengaged,rotatable disc 26 will be locked to housing 8 due to the bias of lockingmember 42 into aperture 24, thereby preventing relative rotation betweendisc 26 and housing 8. At this time openings 29 in disc 26 areapproximately 90 out of phase or alignment with female contacts '6. Uponinserting male contacts 4 into openings 29, pin 14 which is secured tohousing 1 will enter bore 22 and engage the round end portion of lockingmember 42, thrusting locking member 42 upwardly out of bore 22 againstthe bias of spring 44. Since the wall of aperture 24 is beveled as at25, upon rotation of disc 26 effected by manual ro tation of housing 1and thereby contacts 4, the rounded end portion of locking member 42will be cammed out of engagement with aperture 24 allowing disc 26 torotate. Consequently, after locking means 42 has been thrust out of bore22, the male contacts 4 along 'with disc 26 are rotated in a clockwisedirection or in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIGURE 2 againstthe bias of spring 34 until end portion 58 of groove 54 abuts projection52, as shown in FIGURE 4, at which position contacts 4 and 6 will be inalignment to complete insertion of male contacts 4 into female contact 6to eifect an electrical connection. Since leg 35 of spring 34 isconfined within the walls of slot 38 in disc 26, the leg 35 will rotatewith respect to the other leg 33 of spring 34 thereby stressing orloading spring 34. Upon disengagement of male contacts 4 and pin member1 4, spring 34 will unload or untwist to rotate disc 26 counterclockwiseuntil the end portion 56 of groove 54 abuts projection 52, at whichposition locking member 42 is aligned with and will be thrust intoaperture 24 by compression spring 44, thereby locking disc 26 to housing8.

A further embodiment of the present invention contemplates the use of aspiral groove in metallic pin member 14 cooperatively engageable with apin mounted on disc 26 and extending into bore 22. In the operation ofthis embodiment, the male connector is inserted directly into the femaleconnector and rotation of the disc is effected by the spiral groove andpin arrangement rather than by hand as in the first embodiment.

The above described invention provides a simple means for preventingaccidental contact with energized female contacts and for protectingfemale contacts from dirt and other objectional foreign matter. It is tobe appreciated that the diameter of bore 22 and cooperating pin 14 isrelatively small with respect to the diameter of contacts 4 and 6 sothat insertion of a finger, for example, into bore 22 is impossible.Although as shown and described, a pair of mating contacts have beenemployed it will be obvious that if desired more or less than twocontacts may be so located in the housings l and 8. Inaddition, althoughvarious components have been described as circular, various cooperableconfigurations may be employed. Althou'ghlocking member 42 is shownpreferably as a cylindrical plunger, other configurations of the lockingmember could be employed.

Preferred embodiments of this invention having been described inaccordance with the patent statutes, it is to be realized thatmodifications thereof may be made without departing from the broadspirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is respectfullyrequested that this invention be interpreted as broadly as possible andbe limited only by the prior art.

I claim:

1. A wiring device comprising: an elongated housing member having atleast one electrical contact therein which is engageable from one end ofsaid housing member, means overlying and rotatably mounted adjacent saidone end of said housing member, said means having at least one openingextending ttherethrough, means biasing said first mentioned meansrelative to said housing member to at least one position whereat saidcontact and said opening are out of alignment, a member extendingaxially outwardly from said one end of said housing member and having abore therein, a passageway located in said first mentioned meanscommunicating with said bore, a member slidable in said passageway andhaving a portion thereof projectable into said bore for locking saidfirst mentioned means in said one position.

2. A wiring device comprising: a housing member having a face portion, atubular member having a transverse opening therein rigidly secured insaid housing member and extending axially outwardly from the faceportion thereof, said housing member having at least one opening thereinextending axially inwardly from said face portion, an electrical contactdisposed in said opening, a disc member rotatably mounted about saidtubular member adjacent to the face portion of said housing member andhaving at least one opening therethrough which is in registry with theopening in said housing member, means for rotatively biasing said discrelative to said housing memher to at least one position in which saidopenings are out of registry, a plunger slidably mounted in said discmember, and means for biasing said plunger into the transverse openingof said tubular member for locking said disc in said one position.

3. A wiring device comprising: a first elongated housing member havingat least one electrical contact therein which is engageable from one endof said housing member, means overlying and rotatably mounted adjacentsaid one end of said first housing member, said means having at leastone opening extending therethrough, means rotatively biasing said firstmentioned means relative to said first housing member to at least oneposition whereat said contact and said opening are out of alignment, amember extending axially outwardly from said one end of said housingmember and having a bore therein, a passageway located in said firstmentioned means communicating with said bore, a member slid'able in saidpassageway and having a portion thereof projectable into said bore forlocking said first mentioned means in said one position, a secondelongated housing member having at least one electrical contact therein,said contacts in said first and second housing members respectivelybeing engageable with each other, and means on said second housingmember operatively engageable with said portion of said slidable memberfor thrusting said portion of said slidable member out of said bore sothat said first mentioned means may be moved to a position whereat saidcontact of said first housing member is accessible through said openingin said first mentioned means.

4. A wiring device comprising: a first housing member having a faceportion, a tubular member having a transverse opening therein rigidlysecured in said first housing member and extending axiallyoutwardly'from the face portion thereof, said first housing memberhaving at least one opening therein extending axially inwardly from saidface portion, an electrical contact disposed in said opening, a discmember rotatably mounted about said tubular member adjacent to the faceportion of said first housing member and having at least one openingtherein which is in registry with the opening in said first housingmember, means for rotatively biasing said disc relative to said firsthousing member to at least one position in which said openings are outof registry, a plunger slidably mounted in said disc, and means forbiasing a portion of said plunger into the transverse opening of saidtubular member for locking said disc in said one position, a secondhousing member having at least one electrical contact therein, saidcontacts in said first and second housing members respectively beingengageable with each other, and means on said second housing memberoperatively engageable with said plunger for thrusting said plunger outof said transverse opening.

5. A wiring device comprising: a housing having at least one electricalcontact therein which contact is engageable from one surface of saidhousing, cover means rotatably mounted on said housing adjacent to andoverlying said surface of said housing, said cover means having an openportion locatable in and out of registry with said contact upon rotationof said cover means, means biasing said cover means relative to saidhousing to one position whereat said open portion is out of registrywith said contact, said cover means having an opening extendingtherethrough, said housing having a portion extending outwardly fromsaid surface and into said opening in said cover means, said portion ofsaid housing having a bore extending inwardly from the outer endthereof, said portion of said housing having an opening extendinglaterally therethrough from said bore, said cover means having a chambertherein communicating with said opening in said cover means, meanswithin said chamber having a moveable portion biased into engagementwith said portion of said housing, and said moveable portion extendingat least in part through said opening in said portion of said housingand partially within said bore to releasably retain said cover means insaid one position when said moveable portion is aligned with saidopening in said portion of said housing.

6. A wiring device comprising: a housing having at least one electricalcontact therein which contact is engageable from one surface of saidhousing, cover means rotatably mounted on said housing adjacent to andoverlying said surface of said housing, said cover means having an openportion locatable in and out of registry with said contact upon rotationof said cover means, means biasing said cover means relative to saidhousing to one position whereat said open portion is out of registrywith said contact, said cover means having an opening extendingtherethrough, said housing having a portion extending outwardly fromsaid surface and into said opening in said cover means, said portion ofsaid housing having a bore extending inwardly from the outer endthereof, said portion of said housing having an opening extendinglaterally therethrough from said bore, said cover means having a chambertherein communicating with said opening in said cover means, meanswithin said chamber having a moveable portion biased into engagementwith said portion of said housing, said moveable portion extending atleast in part through said opening in said portion of said housing andpartially within said bore to releasably retain said cover means in saidone position when said moveable portion is aligned with said opening insaid portion of said housing, and cooperable stop means on said housingand said cover to limit rotation of said cover to a position where saidopen portion is in registry with said contact.

7. A wiring device comprising: an elongated housing having at least oneelongated electrical contact therein which contact is engageable fromone end of said housing, said elongated contact having the central axisthereof spaced from and parallel to the central axis of said housing,cover means rotatably mounted on said housing adjacent to and overlyingsaid end of said housing, said cover means having an open portionlocatable in and out of registry with said contact upon rotation of saidcover means, means biasing said cover means relative to said housing toone position whereat said open portion is out of registry with saidcontact, said cover means having an opening extending therethrough, saidhousing having a central portion extending axially outwardly from saidend and into said opening in said cover means, said portion of saidhousing having a bore extending inwardly from the outer end thereofcoaxial with the central axis of said housing, said portion of saidhousing having an opening extending laterally therethrough from saidbore, said cover means having a chamber therein communicating with saidopening in said cover means, means within said chamber having a moveableportion biased into engagement with said portion of said housing, andsaid moveable portion extending at least in part through said opening insaid portion of said housing and partially with in said bore toreleasably retain said cover means in said one position when saidmoveable portion is aligned with said opening in said portion of saidhousing.

8. A wiring device comprising: a first housing having at least oneelectrical contact therein which contact is engageable from one surfaceof said first housing, cover means rotatably mounted on said firsthousing adjacent to and overlying said surface of said first housing,said cover means having an open portion locatable in and out of registrywith said contact upon rotation of said cover means, means biasing saidcover means relative to said first housing to one position whereat saidopen portion is out of registry with said contact, said cover meanshaving an opening extending therethrough, said first housing having aportion extending outwardly from said surface and into said opening insaid cover means, said portion of said first housing having a boreextending inwardly from the outer end thereof, said portion of saidfirst housing having an opening extending laterally therethrough fromsaid bore, said cover means having a chamber therein communicating withsaid opening in said cover means, means within said chamber having amoveable portion biased into engagement with said portion of said firsthousing, said moveable portion extending at least in part through saidopening in said portion of said first housing and partially within saidbore to releasably retain said cover means in said one position whensaid moveable portion is aligned with said opening in said portion ofsaid first housing; a second housing having at least one electricalcontact thereon, said electrical contacts in said housings beingengageable with each other, and means of said second housing operativelyengageable with the portion of said moveable portion located within saidbore to move said moveable portion out of said bore to release saidcover for rotation.

9. A wiring device comprising: a first housing having at least oneelectrical contact therein which contact is engageable from one surfaceof said first housing, cover means rotatably mounted on said firsthousing adjacent to and overlying said surface of said first housing,said cover means having an open portion locatable in and out of registrywith said contact upon rotation of said cover means, means biasing saidcover means relative to said first housing to one position whereat saidopen portion is out of registry with said contact, said cover meanshaving an opening extending therethrough, said first housing having aportion extending outwardly from said portion of said first housinghaving a bore extending inwardly from the outer end thereof, saidportion of said first housing having an opening extending laterallytherethrough from said bore, said cover means having a chamber thereincommunicating with said opening in said cover means, means within saidchamber having a moveable portion biased into engagement with saidportion of said first housing, said moveable portion extending at leastin part through said opening in said portion of said first housing andpartially within said bore to releasably retain said cover means in saidone position when said moveable portion is aligned with said opening insaid portion of said first housing; a second housing having at least oneelectrical contact thereon, said electrical contacts in said housingbeing engageable with each other, means of said second housingoperatively engageable with the portion of said moveable portion locatedwithin said bore to move said moveable portion out of said bore torelease said cover for rotation, and said last mentioned means beingreceived within said bore to provide a pivot shaft for rotating saidsecond housing with respect to said first housing.

10. A wiring device comprising: an elongated first housing having atleast one elongated electrical contact therein which contact isengageable from one end' of said first housing, said elongated contacthaving the central axis thereof spaced from and paralled to the centralaxis of said first housing, cover means rotatably mounted on said firsthousing adjacent to and overlying said end of said first housing, saidcover 'means having an open portion locatable in and out of registrywith said contact upon rotation of said cover means, means biasing saidcover means relative to said first housing to one position whereat saidopen portion is out of registry with said contact, said cover meanshaving an opening extending therethrough, said first housing having acentral portion extending axially outwardly from said end and into saidopening in said cover means, said portion of said first housing having abore extending inwardly from the outer end thereof coaxial with thecentral axis of said first housing, said portion of said first housinghaving an opening extending laterally therethrough from said bore, saidcover means having a chamber therein communicating with said opening insaid cover means, means within said chamber having a moveable portionbiased into engagement with said portion of said first housing, saidmoveable portion extending at least in part through said opening in saidportion of said first housing and partially within said bore toreleasably retain said cover means in said one position when saidmoveable portion is aligned with said opening in said portion of saidfirst housing, a second elongated housing having an axially extendingmember closely received within said bore upon insertion therein andengageable with the portion of said moveable portion located within saidbore to move said moveable portion out of said bore to release saidcover for rotation, and said second housing having an axially extendingcontact engageable with said electrical contact in said first housingwhen said open portion is in registry with said contact in said firsthousing.

References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 838,702 12/1938 France.

728,178 10/1942 Germany.

464,250 4/1937 Great Britain.

EDWARD C. ALLEN, Primary Examiner.

PATRICK A. CLIFFORD, Examiner.

.T. H. MCGLYNN, Assistant Examiner.

1. A WIRING DEVICE COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED HOUSING MEMBER HAVING ATLEAST ONE ELECTRICAL CONTACT THEREIN WHICH IS ENGAGEABLE FROM ONE END OFSAID HOUSING MEMBER, MEANS OVERLYING AND ROTATABLY MOUNTED ADJACENT SAIDONE END OF SAID HOUSING MEMBER, SAID MEANS HAVING AT LEAST ONE OPENINGEXTENDING THERETHROUGH, MEANS BIASING SAID FIRST MENTIONED MEANSRELATIVE TO SAID HOUSING MEMBER TO AT LEAST ONE POSITION WHEREAT SAIDCONTACT AND SAID OPENING ARE OUT ALIGNMENT, A MEMBER EXTENDING AXIALLYOUTWARDLY FROM SAID ONE END OF SAID HOUSING MEMBER AND HAVING A BORETHEREIN, A PASSAGEWAY LOCATED IN SAID FIRST MENTIONED MEANSCOMMUNICATING WITH SAID BORE, A MEMBER SLIDABLE IN SAID PASSAGEWAY ANDHAVING A PORTION THEREOF PROJECTABLE INTO SAID BORE FOR LOCKING SAIDFIRST MENTIONED MEANS IN SAID ONE POSITION.